Tag Archives: dinner with julie

Before Christmas last year I decided I wanted to tap into my “Martha Stewart” and bake gifts for most of my friends complete with homemade gift tags and fancy ribbon. They only thing I had jarred in our cold room was a strawberry jam my hubby and his mother made last summer which truth be told, ssshhhh, was not to my liking. Note to self: find new jam recipe before spring.

Granola struck me as a great option as who doesn’t love granola?

One of my favourite foodie blogs Kiss My Spatula had a great recipe so that’s where I started…….but…..seems granola is not quite as easy as it appears. What I learnt was that your oven temperature needs to be lower than what the recipe states and you need to be continually moving it around (not occasionally) as the edges get burnt so quickly. Do not go off to finish varnishing a painting with the oven at 350 and come back after 30 mins (the recipe called for 30-40 mins) After I threw away the blackened part I was left only with enough for us which meant the friends were getting a bottle of wine for Christmas afterall.

I came across this recipe yesterday which calls for peanut butter and looks delicious. I will definitely try it but incorporate the lessons learned from last year.

But in the meantime I happened upon this which is unbelievably good (I ♥ it on yogurt). It is made in Toronto which is just a hop, skip and a jump down the road from me at a place called Ace Bakery.

The only modification I would make is to throw in some flaked coconut and if you get really daring some dark chocolate chips. I added some frozen blueberries that we picked last summer in a place called Wawa on Lake Superior.

Christmas 2012 will be here soon enough and you never know when you going to need a good back up plan. Plus I still have a box full of homemade gift tags and fancy ribbon…..

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About Me …

I never get tired of painting the sky. Everyday all I need to do is look up and there is another piece of art. I take a lot of pictures and have never painted plein air mostly because I love working in my studio. It is cozy and my view is spectacular. With a cup of tea in hand, if I’m lucky a chai latte (addicted) I somewhat plan out my paintings loosely and without any rigid drawing. I may start out with an idea in mind and midway through decide the art wants to take me in a different direction and I’m cool with that. It’s all about the “flow”. Most of my best work has been created this way. I never premix my colours but allow it to happen on the canvas. I love the spontaneity and excitement of what The work will show me. Asking me to stop creating art is like asking me to stop breathing … not going to happen .. at least not yet!